- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9303 CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR CRIMINAL PETITION No. 17239 OF 2025 (438(Cr.PC) / 482(BNSS)) C/W CRIMINAL PETITION No. 17103 OF 2025 CRIMINAL PETITION No. 17283 OF 2025 IN CRL.P No. 17239/2025 BETWEEN: 1. SRI. MANJUNATH S/O LATE MUNIYAPPA AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS R/AT HENNAGARA GATE HENNAGARA VILLAGE AND POST ANEKAL TALUK, BENGALURU – 562 106. 2. SRI.MANJUNATH M.V S/O VENKATASWAMY AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS R/AT No.87, MARUTHI LAYOUT NEAR BUS STAND, ANEKAL TOWN BENGALURU – 562 106. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI LOKESH B, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH ANEKAL POLICE STATION Digitally signed by LAKSHMINARAYANA MURTHY RAJASHRI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9303 CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025 REP. BY THE SPECIAL PUBLIC PLEADER HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU – 560 001. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 Cr.PC (FILED UNDER SECTION 482 BNNS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN CRIME No.379/2025 OF ANEKAL POLICE STATION (REGISTERED BEFORE THE III ADDL.DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, SITTING AT ANEKAL) FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 192(A) OF THE KARNATAKA LAND REVENUE ACT, 1964, AND SECTION 316(4), 336(3), 318(4), 336(2), 340(2) R/W SECTION 3(5) OF BNS 2023. IN CRL.P No. 17103/2025 BETWEEN: 1. SRI. NARAYANA S/O LATE VENKATESH AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS R/AT No.124, 3RD CROSS, VENKATESHWARA LAYOUT ANEKAL TOWN, BENGALURU-562 106. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI P B UMESH, ADVOCATE FOR SRI R. B.DESHPANDE, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH S.H.O., ANEKAL POLICE STATION REP. BY THE STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU – 560 001. ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9303 CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025 THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 (FILED UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) Cr.P.C PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN CRIME No.379/2025 REGISTERED BY ANEKAL POLICE STATION, REGISTERED BEFORE THE III ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, SIT AT ANEKAL FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 192(A) OF KARNATAKA LAND REVENUE ACT, 1964 AND SECTIONS 316(4), 336(2), 340(2) R/W SECTION 3(5) OF BNS, 2023. N CRL.P No. 17283/2025 BETWEEN: 1. SMT. P KALPANA W/O THUKARAM.B.M AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS R/AT BASAVANNA LAYOUT NEAR KARAGADAMMA TEMPLE ATTIBELE HOBLI, ANEKAL TALUK BANGALORE – 562 107. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI. LOKESH B, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH S.H.O, ANEKAL POLICE STATION REPD. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA BENGALURU – 560 001. ...RESPONDENT (BY SRI HARISH GANAPATHY, HCGP) THIS CRL.P IS FILED UNDER SECTION 438 Cr.P.C (UNDER SECTION 482 BNSS) PRAYING TO GRANT ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO THE PETITIONER IN CR.No.379/2025 OF ANEKAL P.S., PENDING BEFORE THE III ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9303 CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025 JUDGE, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT, SITTING AT ANEKAL, FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 192(A) OF THE KARNATAKA LAND REVENUE ACT, 1964, U/S 316(4),336(3),318(4),336(2),340(2) R/W 3(5) OF BNS, 2023. THESE PETITIONS COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR ORAL ORDER Criminal Petition No.17239/2025 is filed by accused Nos.12 and 16, Criminal Petition No.17283/2025 is filed by accused No.11 and Criminal Petition No.17103/2025 is filed by accused No.9. All the three petitions are filed under Section 482 of BNSS seeking grant of anticipatory bail in Crime No.379/2025 of Anekal Police Station registered for offences punishable under Section 192A of Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 and Sections 316(4), 336(3), 318(4), 336(2), 340(2) read with Section 3(5) of BNS. 2. Heard learned counsels for petitioners and learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent -State. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9303 CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025 3. Learned counsel for petitioners would contend that there is no role of petitioners in missing of the documents and creation of the documents. The petitioners are not custodians of the documents. Accused Nos.1,2, 4, 7, 13 and 15 have been granted anticipatory bail by this Court. Therefore, the petitioners are also entitled for grant of anticipatory bail on the ground of parity. The petitioners are ready to co-operate with the Investigating Officer in the investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. With these, they prayed to allow the petitions. 4. Per contra, learned High Court Government Pleader for the respondent -State would contend that investigation is in progress. The offence alleged against the petitioners are provided with sentence of imprisonment which may extend upto 07 years. The allegation against the accused persons is helping the land grabbers by creating and forging the documents and - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9303 CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025 missing of the records from the office. With these, he prayed for dismissal of the petitions. 5. Having heard learned counsels appearing for parties, the Court has perused FIR, complaint and other materials placed on record. 6. This court while granting anticipatory bail to accused Nos.1, 2, 4, 7, 13 and 15 in the order dated 19.01.2026 passed in Criminal Petition No.17369/2025 and other connected matters as observed as under: “10. The FIR was registered on 28.11.2025 alleging commission of offence between 14.10.2025 and 28.11.2025. The allegation in the complaint pertains to the missing of certain documents and the creation of documents. The question as to who was the custodian of the said documents at the relevant point of time is a matter of record. The offences alleged against the petitioners are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. The petitioners have undertaken to cooperate with the Investigating Officer in investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9303 CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025 Court. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioners.” The petitioners who are working as F.D.A, S.D.A and Group D employees in Anekal Taluk Office are similarly placed to that of other accused persons who have already been granted anticipatory bail by this Court. Petitioners have undertaken to co-operate with Investigating Officer in the investigation and abide by any conditions to be imposed by this Court. Offences alleged against petitioners are not punishable either with death or imprisonment for life. There are no criminal antecedents of the petitioners. Considering the above aspects, petitioners have made out case for grant of anticipatory bail with conditions. 7. In the result, the following ORDER i) All the three criminal petitions are allowed. ii) Petitioners -accused Nos.9, 11, 12 and 16 are ordered to be released on bail in the event of - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9303 CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025 their arrest in Crime No.379/2025 of Anekal Police Station subject to following conditions: a) Petitioners -accused Nos. 9, 11, 12 and 16 shall voluntarily appear before the Investigating Officer within fifteen days from this day and execute bail bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- each with one surety for the like sum to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer. b) Petitioners -accused Nos. 9, 11, 12 and 16 shall appear before the Investigating Officer whenever called for and cooperate for investigation. c) Petitioners -accused Nos. 9, 11, 12 and 16 shall appear before the Investigating Officer on first and third Sunday of every month for a period of two months or till filing of final report whichever is earlier. - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9303 CRL.P No. 17239 of 2025 C/W CRL.P No. 17103 of 2025 CRL.P No. 17283 of 2025 d) Petitioners -accused Nos. 9, 11, 12 and 16 shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade them from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence. Sd/- (SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR) JUDGE DSP List No.: 2 Sl No.: 10 Ct.sm